Is my premature child underweight?
Q: My seven months old child weighs 5.7 kg. She is a premature child born in the eighth month. I think that she is not putting on enough weight and also has iron and calcium deficiency. For this, my doctor has suggested me to give her Haptoglobine and Mecalvit syrup. Her other activities like changing sides and sitting are normal. I want to know what diet I should give her. Her weight at birth was 2.1 kg.
A:You child is already 2 and 1/2 times the birth weight at seven months of age, which is fine. Just start semisolids along with adequate milk intake and we don't want that those babies who are born small should gain very rapidly and become obese, as in these babies chances of adult onset diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure is higher.